AN ACCRINGTON police officer headed an investigation that led to the jailing of a family of cruel con artists.

The Hudson family, with homes in Clitheroe, Portugal and Florida, managed to cheat more than £3M out of elderly and vulnerable customers, including several from Hyndburn, through a damp-proofing scam.

The plot’s mastermind, Nigel Hudson, 49, was given a total of eight years and four months in jail at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to obtain property by deception and conspiracy to launder money.

Hudson set up and ran a number of damp-proofing businesses betw-een August 2004 and November 2006, training salesmen in how to con and bully people into having unnecessary work carried out on their homes.

He transferred money out of the country and used it to fund a lavish lifestyle in Portugal and Florida, with worldwide holidays and private schooling for the children.

His wife Sarah Hudson, 26, was also convicted of two conspiracy charges and was sentenced to three years and four months.

Their son, Mark Hudson, from Clitheroe, was jailed for four years after being convicted of two conspiracy charges.

Detective Inspector Joanne Lightbown, of Accrington Police, said: “This was a major operation for us which involved gathering a lot of evidence and tracing suspects around the country and abroad.

“It was a nasty and sophisticated scam. In 2006 alone we believe £1.3M was taken from the UK to Portugal and there were up to 1,500 victims a year.

“I am delighted they have been brought to justice.”

The Hudsons now face having the proceeds of their crimes seized by the courts.